As the inflow into Mettur dam decreases alarmingly, resentment is rising among the 20 lakh-odd farmers and farm-related workers in the Cauvery delta region.

Farmers in Karnataka have called for a statewide bandh on October 6 to protest the release of Cauvery water to TN, but farmers in the Cauvery delta region of TN have announced a rail roko on October 4 in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts demanding Karnataka release the water.

“While we welcome the TN government approaching the Supreme Court demanding more water, we will be pushed to the wall and have no choice but to resort to serious protests and economic blockade if Karnataka does not hear our pleas,” said Mr Swami Natarajan, Thanjavur district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association.

“If we do not get water for the samba crop that has been sowed now, over 8 lakh farmers and another 15 lakh farm-related workers will have to struggle for their livelihood.

We will be left with no choice but to protest as it happened with the Mullaiperiyar riots during December 2011,” he said.

He pointed out that unlike other parts of TN, only paddy can be cultivated in the Cauvery delta region. “If we cannot grow paddy, then we will have to migrate out of this region,” members of the farmers association said.

Swamimalai Vimalanathan, secretary of the Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, said Karnataka farmers protesting against releasing water to TN was unethical and cruel.

“Like in any other profession, farmers also have ethics. For someone who depends on fertile land and water to make a livelihood, it is a sin to see fertile lands go dry.

Even among us, if our neighbour (even if he is an enemy) does not have water to irrigate, we release our water.

It is not to help him, but ensure that the land does not go dry. The attitude of Karnataka farmers has been heartless and TN has to highlight our plight to them,” he urged.

He wanted farmers associations and political parties to get together and decide on a strategy to get Cauvery water through democratic means.

“We do not want to indulge in violence. But, we also need to ensure that our people are not pushed to the wall,” he said.

Pondy to join TN’s Cauvery battle

* The Puducherry government will also move the Supreme Court along with Tamil Nadu to get its fair share of Cauvery water for the tail end region of Karaikal.

* Sources in the chief minister's office said that there will be no separate petition and Puducherry will act jointly with Tamil Nadu and implead for inclusion of Puducherry as a party in Tamil Nadu's petition seeking a direction to Karnataka to release its due share of Cauvery water.

* Sources in the PWD said that the water realisation of Cauvery at Karaikal region depends entirely on the release of water through Mettur dam of Tamil Nadu which in turn depends on the release from Krishnarajasagar dam in Karnataka.

* The meeting of the Cauvery River Authority on September 19 failed to arrive at a solution

PWD keeps fingers crossed over supply of water to delta farmers

Public Works Department (PWD) officials, monitoring water levels at Mettur dam, are a worried lot as they are unsure if they would be able to provide adequate water to farmers as promised by the CM.

The water level at the dam was at 84.29 feet on September 17 when the PWD minister released water for irrigating the samba crop in 15 lakh acres in the Cauvery delta districts.

The government had agreed to release 15,000 cusecs of water every day until January 28 as the inflow in the Mettur dam had steadily risen to 12,566 cusecs.

Barely a week after the release of water commenced, inflow into the dam has now been reduced to 1,989 cusecs as on September 25 following the decision of the Karnataka CM not to release water to Tamil Nadu.

“Now, the water level at Mettur dam is 79.990 feet (as on September 25) and is reducing rapidly due to shortage of inflow.

If this trend continues, we will have to stop releasing water for the samba crop,” PWD officials said on condition of anonymity.

If the water supply is stalled, farmers in the delta districts claim that they would have a failed crop season.

“In a good season, a farmer makes a profit of barely Rs 14,000 for an acre during the samba season. If the crop is a failure, he makes nothing,” said a member of the Cauvery Farmers Protection Association.

Awaiting cauvery water

* No respite for TN The water level at Mettur was at 84.29 feet on September 17 when the PWD minister released water for irrigating the Samba crop in 15 lakh acres in the Cauvery delta districts.

* Karnataka adamant Barely a week after the release of water, inflow into the dam has now been reduced to 1,989 cusecs as on September 25 following Karnataka’s decision not to release water to Tamil Nadu

* Rs 15,000 crore loss to TN’s delta farmers

“In a good season, a farmer makes a profit of barely Rs 14,000 for an acre during the Samba season.
If the crop is a failure, he makes absolutely nothing,” said a member of the Cauvery Farmers Protection Association